Citywide Teacher of the Year

Carrie Gantt, an English teacher and Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow instructor at Princess Anne High School, was named the 2014 Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) Citywide Teacher of the Year.

"Carrie's lessons are among the most challenging, dynamic and thought-provoking lessons I have had the privilege of observing during my tenure as an administrator," Princess Anne principal James Pohl wrote in his recommendation for Gantt. "She continuously recreates her lessons in order to integrate 21st century skills and to use the most cutting edge instructional research. ..She wows me each time I am in her classroom and she enthralls her students on a daily basis."

Known for bringing literature to life in her English classes, Gantt consistently tries to find ways to connect some of history's greatest works to today's audience.

"We develop interests through her questioning and her strategies that require design or creativity," Clarissa Traub, a senior at Princess Anne High School, wrote in a letter of recommendation. "As students, we get so excited about English that this extends even beyond the classroom."

Gantt has been teaching for 23 years. She began her career as a high school teacher in South Carolina, before moving to Virginia. She has taught at Princess Anne High School for all 14 years she has been with the division.

In addition to her work as an English teacher, Gantt is an instructor for Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow, a program designed to inspire and prepare students for careers in education. This is a passion for Gantt who also serves on the VBCPS Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow Citywide Symposium Leadership Team as well as the VBCPS Future Educators Association Advisory Committee.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education from Clemson University and a master's degree in English Literature from Old Dominion University.

Gantt was selected as the Citywide Teacher of the Year from an initial pool of 86 teachers of the year representing each school. She was one of 10 semi-finalists who received classroom visits from the Teacher of the Year selection committee. Five finalists — including Gantt — were then interviewed to determine the citywide winner. She was also named the 2014 Region 2 Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

"Her work to integrate 21st century skills into her lessons, and her ability to bring classic literature to life in a way that is both meaningful and relevant to her students is awe-inspiring," Magula said. "Carrie exemplifies the dedication and passion our teachers have invested in students' learning."

For more information about Gantt or the 2014 VBCPS Teacher of the Year program, please contact the Office of the Deputy Superintendent at 757-263-1390.